Nation

Retail shop transformation not related to GST, says Tan

KUALA LUMPUR: The implementation of the Retail Shop Transformation Programme (Tukar) has nothing to do with the proposal to introduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST), said Deputy Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Tan Lian Hoe.

She told Parliament that Tukar was aimed at helping retailers to modernise their traditional shops to compete with larger retail outlets.

She said this to refute the allegation made by Nurul Izzah Anwar (PKR-Lembah Pantai) that Tukar was introduced with the aim to prepare the retailers for the GST.

"The response given by the retailers participating in the programme showed that their daily sales had also increased by up to 400 per cent," Tan said.

In reply to Datuk Dr Mohamad Shahrum Osman's (BN-Lipis) question, Tan said a total of 519 retail shops, including cooperative shops, had been modernised nationwide last year, surpassing the initial target of 500 shops.

As at April 6 this year, 107 shops had been modernised, with work in progress on 393 others. BERNAMA